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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Virginia Tech introduced James Franklin as head coach on Nov. 17, seeking stability after a rocky run.
Just over two weeks later, that hire has already heavily altered the recruiting landscape.
Franklin’s arrival has coincided with a wave of decommitments from Penn State and a string of late flips into Blacksburg that lifted Virginia Tech to No. 23 in the 2026 recruiting cycle.
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During National Signing Day on Wednesday, Franklin addressed the Hokies’ recent recruiting flips and commitments.
"Well, it's still about relationships unless the gap of money is too wide, and I've been a part of a few of those as well. But yeah, I think that that was a big part of this. Most of the guys that we are signing today are guys that we've had relationships with for two plus years, with them, with their parents, with their high school coaches."
"We're in a different situation and a different brand with Virginia Tech that, for most of us, you guys on the show, we grew up with a Virginia Tech that was kicking butt and taking names. And this is going to be the type of class and type of young men that are going to help us restore that."
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Franklin rebuilt Vanderbilt into a regular bowl program (2011-2013) and spent 12 seasons at Penn State (2014-2025), where he compiled 104-45 and led the Nittany Lions to a 2016 Big Ten title and a 2024 College Football Playoff appearance.
Despite all of that success, Penn State dismissed Franklin on Oct. 12 after a disappointing 3–3 start to the college football season that featured three straight high-profile losses to Oregon, UCLA, and Northwestern.
Still, Franklin's body of work — and his regional recruiting ties in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast — made him Virginia Tech’s top target after the Hokies parted ways with Brent Pry.
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Virginia Tech’s own coaching change came after a 0-3 start and an unsteady stretch under Pry, who was fired on Sept. 14.
Since Franklin’s arrival, multiple high-profile prospects who had been committed to Penn State reopened their recruitment and selected Virginia Tech.
Among the most notable flips are four-star EDGE Tyson Harley and interior lineman Benjamin Eziuka — both reported as moving from Penn State to Virginia Tech — as well as other four-star commits, such as LB Terry Wiggins, QB Troy Huhn, TE Pierce Petersohn, WR Davion Brown, OT Marlen Bright, and RB Messiah Mickens.
Virginia Tech’s recruiting surge and renewed optimism have drawn national attention, with Franklin eager to silence doubters and already making waves on the trail.
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